Prime Minister Kim: "With Ceasefire Deadline Near, Emergency System to Remain Firm... 'Speed' Is Key for Wartime Supplementary Budget"

17th Cabinet Meeting and 8th Emergency Economic Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Minseok Kim stated on April 21, "With the ceasefire deadline between the United States and Iran approaching and continued uncertainty in the Middle East, the government will steadfastly maintain the current emergency economic response system." He also urged for an accelerated execution of the supplementary budget, including support payments for damages caused by high oil prices, emphasizing that even if the circumstances of the Middle East war change, energy supply instability is likely to persist for some time.

Prime Minister Minseok Kim attended the Cabinet meeting and the Emergency Economic Headquarters meeting held at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 21st, and struck the gavel. 2026.4.21 Photo by Yojong Joon

Presiding over the 17th Cabinet Meeting and the 8th Emergency Economic Headquarters Meeting at the Government Seoul Office on the morning of April 21, Prime Minister Kim addressed the Ministry of Economy and Finance and other related ministries, saying, "Please ensure thorough implementation of additional supply stabilization measures such as the release of urea stockpiles for vehicles scheduled for this week and the establishment of the fourth petroleum price ceiling." He particularly stressed, "Speed is of the essence in this wartime supplementary budget. I ask the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to meticulously check the status of supplementary budget arrangements in all 243 local governments so that the budget for 20 projects, including high oil price damage support payments, can be executed swiftly."

Prime Minister Kim also commented on President Jaemyung Lee's ongoing tour of India and Vietnam, stating, "I ask all relevant ministries to ensure proper follow-up so that efforts to overcome the difficulties of the Middle East war and to stabilize energy and supply chains can continue, with the president at the center."

Regarding the situation in the Middle East, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoonju Park reported, "With the ceasefire deadline between the United States and Iran set to expire tomorrow, whether peace negotiations will resume and the ceasefire will be extended is the key issue for future developments," adding, "Both sides remain firmly opposed to each other." On the safety of overseas Koreans, he added, "There have been no direct injuries to our citizens, and the number of Koreans currently staying in the Middle East remains at around 14,000. We will continue to closely monitor the situation on the ground and make every effort to protect our nationals abroad."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.